 | 'After being accused of wilful fire- raising, Watson denied any wrongdoing for 10 months before changing his plea to guilty last week.' Paul Hutcheon, Scottish Political Editor, in the Sunday Herald, 4 th September 2005. |  |
| 'After being accused of wilful fire- raising, Watson denied any wrongdoing for 10 months before changing his plea to guilty last week.' Paul Hutcheon, Scottish Political Editor, in the Sunday Herald, 4 th September 2005. | |
The political world has been reacting to MSP Lord Watson's guilty plea to setting fire to curtains at a prestigious Edinburgh hotel while attending an awards ceremony.
SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRAT LEADER NICOL STEPHEN
I think everyone who knows Mike Watson will appreciate this is a sad end to his political career. But equally everyone would agree he has done the right thing by resigning as a member of the Scottish Parliament.
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY
There is no place in public life for someone convicted of such a serious offence.
SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE CHIEF WHIP BILL AITKEN
Having acknowledged his guilt, it is quite right that he tenders his resignation as an MSP, given the serious nature of the offence.
SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY CONVENER COLIN FOX
Nothing better illustrates the utterly disproportionate nature of the sanctions taken against the four suspended SSP MSPs than the fact that Mike Watson, one of those who voted to crucify us, will face no sanction from parliament and now stands to walk away with substantial sums of money and a pension from the public purse.
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